I purchased files from Etsy and the had the designed section filled in but the tool path was blank. They were all stl or dxf file that I extracted and converted to the Carbide 2 cd file. I’m not experienced enough to build the tool paths but was just curious if that’s standard for Etsy files?
Etsy is just a storefront, the file type determines how to use them. I haven’t used dxf files in CC but for STL files the process is, in general:
• create a Vetor shape, often a rectangle, that will “hold” your object.
• in the Model pane, import your STL (the ball icon) with that vector object selected.
• [do a bunch of adjusting]
• create tool paths.
For the “adjusting” you will need to review the appropriate Carbide 3D videos and/or study several posts and tutorials on this site. It’ll take some time to get up to speed but once you do you can use the techniques on any STL file.
As a general rule, even if a file I got did have toolpaths, I would never use them as is.
The creator knows nothing about my machine or the bits I have available, there’s absolutely no way they would be able to come up with a good cut plan.
The toolpaths would likely be a good place to start, but I would end up re-creating every one just to be sure that they were safe, much less appropriate.
For an STL see:
For a DXF see:
or see the search:
https://community.carbide3d.com/search?q=etsy%20toolpath
For fixing a DXF see:
For information on toolpaths see:
https://carbide3d.com/hub/courses/create/toolpaths/
https://carbide3d.com/hub/courses/create-pro/engraving/
https://carbide3d.com/hub/courses/create-pro/3d-toolpaths/
and
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Gary, yes, on Etsy you usually get just digital files like SVG - vector graphic or sometimes dxf-files as 2d-CAD-files, or even STl files as 3d-files. There are online tools that give you a preview.
As long as Etsy does not offer G-code -and I did not see those offered there- the files usually do not include toolpaths. And that makes sense: every toolpath is specific for the machine it was made for, so even with Gcode that has t be adjusted. ( I do not know whether C3Dsoftware has import options for GCode at all)
So there is no way around importing the files you got with CC (plain open for the DXF-file, and import for the STL-file from the 3d-tab of CC).
And that is where the fun begins. You will brake bits, and you will produce firewood. Recommend to try your design first with some soft wood, MDF is recommended often, but it gives ugly cuts, very nasty dust -no chips- and takes a toll on the bits because it is mostly plastic with wood dust. Soft wood gives nice chips, and can be found almost everywhere for free.
NEVER! touch any moving machine part. Any. Always wear goggles. Tight ones, the dust even irritates the eyes when the googles are not tight, and if you sweat under the googles building fog aerate the goggles with a fish tank air pump to see clearly. And! always underrated: noise protection. People think they are already hard of hearing so they are not much bothered by the noise, but even if the noise is not heard any more it still damages the last hearing cells. Sorry, you said something of being not experienced with the software part, so I assumed with woodworking too. Same here, startet few years ago, and learned the things all by myself)